Loyalist Cottage

More and More.

2012-01-30T13:48:00.000-04:00

Do you know that because I live in such a backwoods area as far as good taste and refinement are concerned I have to source fabrics online? I got these snazzy fabrics last week. They are all heavy weight decorators cotton with the look of linen. Okay, I did find the floral at the only fabric store in the whole city. (And they wonder why people shop online.)

I don't know why the gray fabric looks so light. It's actually quite dark. I'm going to put zippers in the covers and make them 18" square. I do have a couple of 16" envelope back covers made because my minion forgot to cut them the right size. Should I fire him? Should I make the pillows larger than 18"? Will these pillows solve world peace? I'm in need of your opinions people.

Broken Item of the Week.

2012-01-28T13:36:00.000-04:00

Here we go again, Gentle Readers. I present to you our Broken Item of the Week.

Why what is it? you may ask. It is our satellite video receiver. This is the only way we can get television out here in the sticks. They don't even have cable out here. So we are without TV for about a week. I really don't mind, we have hardly been watching anything this winter except for Fringe and of course it was on last night. Ah well. At least I didn't break it and there are only two of us here. I'm not naming names or anything.

The Real Deal.

2012-01-27T15:05:00.000-04:00

Since many of you wanted to see the layout of the upstairs hall from yesterday's post, I will oblige. Just remember it is unstaged and unedited and Mr LC is a major critic of my little video. Humph!

He's all 'why didn't you show the door latches, they're hand forged. Or the doors with the wide panels?' Those are for another day Mr LC. I need post material my good man.

Anyway, I hope this gives you some idea of the hall.

I Can't Believe I'm Showing You.

2012-01-26T19:32:00.002-04:00

I've been busy lately Gentle Readers. In an effort to entertain you I'm going to show you my upstairs hall. I stripped off some nasty paper and painted the walls last fall when the cat was away in the Dominican Republic. It's still not done up but I want you to look at my old dresser.

I think a lot of girls had a similar one when they were teens or younger. It's really beat up. My girls used it lovingly. That wall was once the end of the house and is covered in wide horizontal boards. I don't think I should paint it, do you? Remember, this house was built in 1802.

There are all kinds of stains and smudges that just won't come off. I've seen lots of pictures on the Internets of ones that people have made over.

source

Or, this one.

source

Here's the other end of the hall.

Is that hall gorgeous or what! Don't you love the colour (gag) of the floor? The staircase is just past the pine dresser and you can see a couple of shelves over it. My paint brush wouldn't reach that far so of course it isn't painted yet.

So dear Readers, I would like some advice on what colour to paint that dresser. It isn't going downstairs in one piece because we had to take out a wall to get it up there, so I'm stuck with it. Should I paint it some bright happy colour like red or turquoise? Maybe a sedate gray or pale aqua. I bought some great drawer pulls majorly on sale some time ago for it. Please help. Maybe your input will make me gitter done. Or not.

p.s. To cheer me you up here's a photo of my grand baby that daughter #1 just posted on Facebook with her Iphone. These high tech youngins!

It's Raining Pillows.

2012-01-23T19:28:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I know you've missed me. We are up to our ears in pillow supplies here at the LC.

The sewing machine has been running at full bore.

The silk screen has been silking right along in fine style.

The orders are piling up. We had to make a trek into the city to get more fabric. I'm so excited! Only 400 more pillows and I'll have enough for a ticket to Australia. Don't look for me anytime soon ladies.

Being Proactive.

2012-01-16T16:09:00.000-04:00

Dear old Mr LC loves to have a sweet or two to munch on while sipping his tea in front of the fire.


Can you believe someone put this photo on Pinterest? Me either.

When there is nothing to munch on, he starts to whine. So in order to head off the whining session I decided to bake some cookies today for him.

Look at my fancy photographing skills.

I should be a food stylist, no?

Now head on into the kitchen and make some cookies. Here's the receipt* if you would like to try them:

Brown Sugar Cookies

3/4 cup shortening

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 3/4 cup flour

2 tsp cream of tartar

1 tsp soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp vanilla

Cream shortening. Add brown sugar and cream well. Add egg. Sift flour, cream of tartar, soda, and salt together. (I don't sift.) Add to the first mixture. Add vanilla. Drop with a teaspoon on a baking sheet. (I don't grease mine.) Press down slightly with two fingers. Bake at 375F for 10-12 minutes. Makes around 30 cookies.

I'm not eating them so they should last for a day or two. A good blogging buddy told me that when they have nothing to talk about they talk about food. You know who you are. Peace out.

* Back in the Dark Ages recipes were called receipts. Really. Just ask me.

Another Fifteen Minutes.

2012-01-14T19:48:00.001-04:00

Some of you dear readers who have been reading my blog for awhile might remember this post in which I talked about being in a magazine and how that turned out.

Today my daughter picked up the new February/March issue of HGTV magazine and lo and behold, the pillow I told you about here is in there:

According to the internets, it came out today.

My daughter did some international travel today and found it in Maine. Of course she bought a copy for me. I opened the magazine in nervous excitement and anticipation.

I found my pillow on page 54. Do you notice anything? Do you? DO YOU?

Do you see my photo of the pillow? Now look at this one again:

Why do I even bother? WHY? WHY? WHY?

All I can do is laugh. You laugh too. We'll be laughing around the world. The end.

Sassy Undercover!

2012-01-09T19:00:00.000-04:00

Sassy, our Intrepid Wonder Horse, has found a new calling in life.

Whoa there Sassy!

She thinks she's a spy. She's wearing camouflage!

I'm not sure who she's trying to blend in with. Is that a tiger or a leopard she's impersonating? If so, she's living in the wrong jungle here.

Whoever you're trying to be Sassy, you're not fooling us here at the LC.

Say Hello to My New Little Friend.

2012-01-07T14:06:00.000-04:00

I was not at all happy with my apron photos in my Etsy shop so I got some photos taken of a gal modeling the aprons. While this was happening Mr LC and I ventured into town yesterday to buy some fabric. After that I suggested that we go to Winners/Homesense to see what we couldn't afford to buy.

Lo and behold I met my new friend!

She's French!

Look how much better my aprons look now!

Can you tell I'm excited??!!!

Big Box Shopping.

2012-01-06T13:14:00.000-04:00

A couple of months ago I saw this blog post by Brooklyn Limestone. The post shows how to make designs on dishes. The script plate she showed was so pretty that I wanted to try it. Here's a photo:

link

So I looked on the internets for the special brand of marker that she used to write on porcelain. The price was good and the shipping reasonable so I ordered one.

Google images

I received a box at the door this morning from the mail lady.

After rummaging around in the box for a minute I pulled out all the packing paper. This is what I found at the very bottom of the box:

A six inch marker in a 12x8x4 box.

link

I know More is More, but isn't this a bit of overkill???

Mr. LC: Fashion Forward?

2012-01-01T15:13:00.000-04:00

I've been perusing other blogs lately and have noticed that most of the posts written in the last day or two are about accomplishments the blogger has made during 2011. Some list their most popular posts or hopes for 2012. I'm going to talk about Mr LC and the headgear worn by him during the past year. Hold on to your hats, you're in for a treat.

My perennial favourite, the ball cap worn during flea marketing when it's too hot to breathe.

The wild and exciting ~~scary actually~~ 'do rag'. This is standard apparel for motorcyclists around these parts. Note: Mr. LC does not possess a motorcycle.

The standard Canadian toque with extra added ear flaps and tassels. ( I believe daughter was given this hat by a local brewery whilst in university.)

The winter scarf turned turban look. ( Please excuse the gold dollar store deer in the background. Mr LC insists upon placing it in a prominent position every Christmas.)

Due to the severity of our winter conditions and the shortness of his hair, Mr LC likes to come up with his own in-home style solutions.
Thank you Mr LC for your gracious approval of this blog post. You are a tip top ~~hat~~ gentleman and a scholar.

Now Mr LC and all the inhabitants of the Loyalist Cottage wish you a bright and happy new year filled with many successes along the way.

New year's eve at the Loyalist Cottage

Oh, come on. I bet your New Year's Eve was just as exciting as ours. And, I'm even showing you the ugly television!

You've Got Mail.

2011-12-30T16:06:00.000-04:00

It's fun getting presents at Christmas time. Pretty packages all tied up with ribbon.

It's really nice though to get packages from far away. From people you've never met face to face but you feel like you've known them forever.

Packages with things in them like this:

Unexpected parcels from other countries.

All the way from Italy! Thank you Bobbi I haven't tasted them yet.

The greatest gift I have received through blogging though is making so many fantastic friends from all around the world. My friends are the best gift ever! Thank you all for putting up with me on this blog and allowing me to share my life with you a little bit. I hope we all have the best New Year ever in 2012.

p.s. Skype is a modern day miracle.

Back to Business.

2011-12-29T12:59:00.000-04:00

Yesterday Mr LC and I brainstormed some items for my Etsy shop. As you know, I will be featured in this magazine so I figured I better start loading up on some new things. I decided to try some aprons. I just wish I had Janet to model them for me!

At the very least, I wish I had one of those old style dressmakers forms. Anyone have one for rent?

Christmas Day.

2011-12-26T11:37:00.000-04:00

Did he see Santa???

I hope everyone had a cracker of a day. Good friends and family, good presents, and most important of all, Good Eats!

It's Christmas Eve.

2011-12-24T14:58:00.002-04:00

We're having a white Christmas here Gentle Readers. It just doesn't seem like Christmas without snow. We have much to be thankful for this year, especially the safe arrival of our first grandchild.

No, he didn't arrive under the Christmas tree. He must be either waiting for Santa or he thinks he's a present.

anime.desktopnexus.com

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined. Isiah 9:2

I wish each and everyone one of you, my friends near and far, a joyful and happy Christmas. God bless us every one!

Tree Trimmings.

2011-12-20T16:24:00.000-04:00

The weather hasn't been cooperating for photos of my tree. I just snapped a few today.

Here's an old favourite from my childhood. It's getting tarnished but who cares?

I got this one for Mr LC a few years ago.

I love these birds.

Daughter #1 crafted Mr LC's coat of arms many years ago.

Here's the real one.

Another old dear.

Got to go. It's a one dog night. Brrr...

Broken Item of the Week.

2011-12-19T09:54:00.000-04:00

Yes folks, it's that time again. Yesterday Daughter #1 came over and we trimmed the tree. I was in the kitchen so I know it wasn't me when I heard a tinkle of breaking glass in the living room. This is what I found:

Now don't feel badly. All of our ornaments are glass and many are vintage from my tree and Mr LC's from our childhood. This little house is fairly new. No one is copping to the crime. Let me show you the front of the ornament and you'll see why we were all kind of relieved the thing broke.

Does that house look like a face to you? It does to us and it's kind of creepy. I think the tree may have thrown the thing off because it was embarrassed to be wearing such a decoration. I guess we'll never know.

The Weather Report.

2011-12-18T14:40:00.001-04:00

Last night I had another interesting email conversation with my buddy Steve from An Urban Cottage . He usually apprises me of the weather situation in the Boston area because in a day or two we get the same weather up here most of the time.

Last night he wanted to know how cold it was here because it seemed to be cold enough down there for him to wear a hood. I told him it was about -7C but that I can't translate that into Fahrenheit anymore. I decided to post a pictorial representation of the chilly weather here:

Cold Much?

Favourite Things.

2011-12-13T21:50:00.000-04:00

Do you remember waaay back when you were a child having a favourite cup or maybe a spoon? It could have been a special cereal bowl. I remember having a favourite spoon. Was I annoyed if anyone else ~~mybrother~~ used it!
When we get older we're supposed to put away childish things aren't we? Not Mr LC.

Official Mug Shot

He now has a special mug and woe betide if anyone else me even thinks of using it. One of the fellows he met in the Dominican Republic gave it to Mr LC as a parting gift. He took a real liking to my hubby and even invited him to his home for dinner. The meal alone was a real sacrifice because most of these people can barely afford to feed their families let alone a guest.

The day Mr LC left for home the young man presented him with the coffee mug. Another sacrifice because he had to spend precious money to buy the mug. Mr LC was deeply touched by the generosity of this young man.


Another Official Mug Shot

Mr LC told me the strange thing was that everyone has a smart phone. They pay for minutes as they go. No cellphone plans there. It's great because Mr LC is able to stay in touch with some of the guys through Facebook. Sometimes the translation gets a bit confused though. Hubby thought he told one fellow who posted a picture of his family that he had three pretty sisters. It turns out he said he had three pretty to die. Whoops. Maybe he should get some Spanish lessons for Christmas, you think?

I Do What I'm Told.

2011-12-10T20:17:00.001-04:00

UPDATE: Note to self; Do not use organic canola oil in place of salad oil.

Due to popular demand re my earlier post today, I reveal the mysteries of this cookie. Or biscuit. Depending on where you live.

Here is the recipe for Sugar Cookies:
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
2 eggs
5 cups of flour
1 tsp cream of tartar
1 cup margarine or butter
1 cup salad oil
1tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

Mix margarine, oil, and sugars. Add eggs, then dry ingredients. Roll into small balls and press down on ungreased cookie sheet with a glass dipped in sugar. Bake at 350F for 10-15 minutes.

I used Martha Stewart Holidays sanding sugar in red instead of regular sugar.

I couldn't find a photo of Martha's but you get the idea.

Oh, and by the way, Mr LC says they taste like fish. Guess what he's getting for Christmas.

Holiday Prep.

2011-12-10T14:07:00.000-04:00

Daughter #1 has proclaimed tomorrow to be Christmas Baking Day.

Eat your heart out Martha!

I just do what I'm told. So be it.

Shameless Promotion.

2011-12-07T10:21:00.000-04:00

Take a look at this video. Tara and Jeff are friends of ours. Tara and Daughter#1 have been friends since primary. Besides having a beautiful voice, she plays a mean fiddle. Enjoy.

Yes, this is where we live. All.Winter.Long.

Mail Call.

2011-12-02T12:45:00.000-04:00

This is what I found in my mailbox yesterday:

And in other breaking news my grandbaby is getting saucy:

seven weeks

Talk to the hand!

p.s. Please ignore all that baby truck in the background.

Cross Cultural.

2011-12-01T19:02:00.000-04:00

Here is Grandbaby ready to go out into the cold and wind:

Burka Baby!

Love It or Hate It?

2011-11-30T12:25:00.000-04:00

I was just reading this blog post by Razmataz. It was about Sarah Richardson's new series. I asked Raz how she liked the dining room Sarah did in the new Sarah's House season. Now, I pretty much always love her designs. This time I really didn't like it. There were too many shades of blue not getting along. What do you think?

Usually, her rooms are much cleaner and less jarring to me. Here are some other dining rooms she has designed.

So folks, do we love Sarah's latest dining room or hate it? I'm all ears.

All photos from HGTV.ca

Who Knew?

2011-11-23T16:40:00.000-04:00

I'm just going to post some random DR photos to sweeten the pot. Everyone likes to look at pictures on a blog, right?

They love to have their picture taken.

Mr LC got back from the Dominican on a Monday and by Tuesday he was teaching again. I know. His former boss called him and asked if he would fill in for about twelve weeks while one of the staff did a practicum to complete her masters degree.

Look at those eyelashes!

Mr LC reasoned that it would be great to get the extra income and have little responsibility. As in he doesn't have to write any reports. That's a big win for him.

Sweet!

You won't believe this but now I don't like it when he works. How weird is that? I can't believe myself sometimes. It's only three days a week but I can feel the stress already. Getting him out the door in the morning is a job in itself. Besides that, I no longer have the car whenever I want it. Major bummer.


Happy days, Mr LC!

The best part is he's been on the job for a week and he has a storm day already!

Long Time No See.

2011-11-18T12:02:00.000-04:00

It seems like I haven't been here in forever. Mr LC got back from the Dominican on Monday so between him and my Grand baby I've been a wee bit busy this week.

Here's my five week old baby:

Is he not the cutest thing you have ever seen?

I just loaded a ton of Dominican photos last night so I haven't edited them at all but I'll show a couple here:

How sweet are they? I was sure Mr LC would have brought some of these babies home with him but for some odd reason their mothers wouldn't let them go.

Cuteness squared.

Broken Item of the Week.

2011-11-12T11:10:00.000-04:00

While Mr LC is away, I like to be a bit naughty. I like to imbibe a little. This is my drink of choice:

The photo I chose is germain to the broken item

You cannot mix pepsi with your laptop.

When Pepsi spillage occurs on the keyboard of your laptop mayhem ensues. Et voila! My broken item of the week. Let's hope the IT genius son-in-law can fix it for me before Mr LC comes home from the Dominican on Monday or I may be going on an extended vacation to a place not of my choosing.

How's that for a run on sentence? Scared much???

Am I Ready For This?

2011-11-04T11:06:00.000-03:00

If you have followed my blog from the beginning, you may remember my post about my fifteen minutes of fame by being featured in a magazine. You can read it here

A few weeks ago I was contacted by HGTV magazine. I didn't know they had a magazine, did you? Well they do and this is the first issue:

I was contacted because they want to feature my red alphabet pillow from my Etsy shop! WOW!

I am thrilled and amazed. The pillow will be featured in an article about great pillows under $30.00. They will be sending me a copy of the issue when it is ready so I'll be sure and let you know.

Will I have to increase my staff? Will I have to get a new sewing machine? Will I be able to source enough ink for my silkscreen? Oh, the problems I will have to deal with! Riiiiight.

Believe It or Not.

2011-11-02T12:22:00.000-03:00

As many of you may recall, last winter I moaned about the weather incessantly. That's just what Maritimers do. I'm going to try my best not to whine about it this year except for what happened this past Sunday.

Let's just say I was rendered speechless when I woke up to this Sunday morning. Believe it or not.

Below is another believe it or not moment:

This has never happened before. Sophie and Emma actually jumped up on the couch even though Millie was there first. Those two dogs are in fear and trembling when Millie's in the house. I guess when the wood fire is going all bets are off. Of course they always take the best seat in the house. Do I make them move? Of course not.

Boo Hoo!

2011-10-31T20:25:00.000-03:00

Happy Halloween!

BOO!

Caribbean King???

2011-10-28T12:02:00.000-03:00

Have any of you ever been to the Dominican Republic? Me neither. I hear it's a tropical paradise full of sun, sand, and balmy ocean breezes. And food. Lots of food. Guess who's going there?

Ole Mr LC

Yes, Mr LC will be heading to the Dominican soon. Am I going? I hear you ask. Nay Nay, Gentle Readers, alas I am not. Mr LC will be staying in a fancy resort: full of food, beaches, and more food. Yup. Am I bitter? you ask.

No, I mean who would want to laze around a place like that?

And miss the possibility of this:

google images

Not me.

Oh all right. I'll let you in on a secret. Mr LC is volunteering on a humanitarian mission. He's with a group of seasoned professionals who do this on a yearly basis. They fill a cargo container with donated medical equipment, medicines, clothing, toys and who knows what else. All of this is donated by the kindly people of NB and some other parts of Canada. They will be working long hours in remote locations giving those who cannot afford it medical care. Vaccinations, eye care, check ups, you name it. The group has also set up a school there for children who cannot afford school.

So while Mr LC will be staying in a fancy resort, he won't have a lot of time to enjoy it. I know he will enjoy what he will be doing a lot more. Keep him in your prayers will you please?

Meanwhile, I'll be here lugging firewood, watering and feeding a horse and adoring my new grand baby. Pray for me too.

Have a great time, Mr LC. Please don't catch anything contagious.

Today's Blessings.

2011-10-25T16:49:00.000-03:00

Mr LC made some applesauce today from apples grown on our property.

Then, we had an unexpected visitor.

Baby Boy's first visit! He slept through the whole thing. Are we boring or what?

Broken Item of the Week.

2011-10-22T17:50:00.000-03:00

Well, here we are again Gentle Readers. This week's broken item is actually two items. Two serving bowls of vintage origin. Don't worry, my pantry is getting less cluttered by the day.

Have a great weekend all and try not to break anything. By the way, Mr LC thinks I only broke one dish. Let's not disabuse him of the facts, alrighty?

It's Been One Week.

2011-10-21T17:59:00.000-03:00

My daughter mentioned today that it's been one week since Baby Boy was born. I don't know about her, but I'm pooped. I got my camera out to take a one week photo and alas, I had left my memory card in my laptop. At home. So here are a few photos from when he was a day old.

He's a really good baby I think. He doesn't really fuss and sleeps well too. A dream child.

Here He Is!

2011-10-16T10:43:00.000-03:00

He arrived October 14th at 8:27 PM weighing 8lbs 9.5 oz. He is the most beautiful baby in the world!

0ne hour old!

Mother and Babe are doing great. God has blessed us well.

Still Waiting.

2011-10-12T12:31:00.000-03:00

We are still awaiting the immanent arrival of Grandchild #1. We're sticking close to the phone these days so there's not too much going on here. I thought I would ~~bore~~ entertain you with some falling leaves. Remember, my filming skills are not the best.

You can actually hear the leaves hitting the ground.

Oops. I guess I don't know how to turn the camera off. Must remember to oil the hinges on the door.

It's That Time Again!

2011-10-09T17:04:00.001-03:00

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving eh!

For your added enjoyment (or not) watch this:

There's a couple of naughty words. Be warned.

Cooking 101.

2011-10-05T18:25:00.000-03:00

Long ago in a galaxy far, far away I loved to cook. I love cook books, I read'em like novels but I seldom make anything out of them beyond my tried and true recipes. Since the advent of fussy children turning up their noses at mealtimes, I kind of lost my mojo.

He's still cute.

Enter Jamie Oliver. (I wish he would enter my house.) I love watching him on the food network. I especially love the British shows: the ones on school lunches- That had a far reaching effect. Once Jamie started on the rampage all the junk food was removed from the schools here. I also like the Food Revolution. He tried to get a whole English town to cook. He is so earnest, as one of my commenters said.

Daughter #1 gave us the above cookbook a couple of years ago. All I managed to make out of it was Spaghetti Bolognese and I must say it hit the spot. My husband dug this cookbook out a couple of weeks ago and we have been endeavouring to liven up our veggies Jamie style.

We tried broccoli with Asian dressing and it was good.

I made a leek and potato soup that was lovely.

We were doing so well and then Mr LC decided to try Jamie's Light and Fluffy rice. EPIC FAIL!!!! I think the cooking times were off in the recipe because it sure tasted raw to us.

Undaunted, we decided to go for the Buttered Spinach.

Delicious! We had a do over because it was so good. I cooked the broccoli and spinach for the same meal and Mr LC said ' Perfect. Now all we need is a slab of steak to go with this.' FAIL Mr LC! FAIL!

p.s. Do you think that Julie and Julia idea would work in this case??? Probably not. I'd have to change my name to Olive.

All photos are from Jamie Oliver.com.

Another Post in Which I Have Nothing to Say.

2011-09-28T11:58:00.000-03:00

Yesterday I took Daughter #2 for a prenatal assessment. All is well and the baby is due on our Thanksgiving weekend. I hope to get out of cooking dinner for this one. Why do all the holiday celebrations fall on the wife/mother? I digress.

Yesterday the weather was warmer than it had been all summer. Today we are huddled around the woodburner in the kitchen.

I saw another bear on Saturday. I sure hope it was the same one we saw before as it was much farther away from our house.

Not funny.

It was Mr LC's turn to cook dinner last night and his sister called and invited us over for dinner at her place. I hope this means he's cooking tonight.

Can anyone tell from this post that I don't like to cook?

I did make a potato and leek soup the other day for the first time and I must say it was awesome. Thanks to Jamie Oliver.

He's so cute.

I still don't like to cook though.

Over and out. Carry on.

Somebody Reads My Blog.

2011-09-23T13:22:00.000-03:00

Last night I got a phone call from this creature:

Playing the pregnant card she convinced her hubby to go and get her some of these:

She had to call and tell me they were on sale and had moved to the cookie aisle. She's helpful that way.

More Time Travel.

2011-09-20T15:07:00.000-03:00

When I was a teenager I liked to refinish old furniture. I used to love to strip off the years of old black varnish and make the piece look nice again. My grandmother gave me a rocking chair back then because she was impressed by my skill(!) She took me over to an old storage shed behind the house and there up in the rafters was an old rocking chair. My grandmother collected rocking chairs like there was no tomorrow. We got the dusty old piece down(the chair I mean) and I set to work. Et voila! When my grandmother saw the chair all done up, she wanted it back! The nerve!

I just dug it out of our old shed because #2 wants a rocking chair for the soon to arrive baby. I rocked her and her sister many an hour in this old gal.

I love the carving on the back.

Doesn't she look so happy! The end is near.

Coupon Update.

2011-09-19T20:48:00.000-03:00

I just wanted to let you know (because I know you're super interested) how I did with my coupons last week. I scored! It took me a couple of hours to peruse all the flyers for the stores in our area but I did it. I comparison shopped and checked for good sales and made sure I had the coupons to match.
Here's my pile for this week:

I'm not going to clear the shelves or hoard inordinate amounts of stuff. I'll just buy things I need and use. I never used to check the ads before shopping. Once I started I couldn't get over how much money I was wasting by just throwing things in my shopping cart without looking at the prices. Shameful, really.

Imagine my excitement when perusing the foreign food aisle I came upon these:

Tim Tams! And they were on sale!!! A real Australian delicacy! Yum!
Happy shopping, mates.

Up Close and Personal.

2011-09-16T20:59:00.000-03:00

Before Mr LC retired we used to go out every Friday night for a date. Now that he is home every.single.day we no longer need a date night because we are together all the time. Sigh. However, Mr LC decided to be sweet and take me out to Tims for a coffee (smoothie for me) and a doughnut.

Now, we live on a dirt road in the ruralist of rural areas. We are twenty minutes from the nearest small town. This evening we started down our road (in the car) and before we got very far we saw this crossing our path.


Reenactment

A BEAR! I have never seen a real bear out in the wild before. I was scared, very scared. Mr LC was excited, very excited. He rolled down the window of the car and called to the bear! Thankfully, the bear ignored him. This past spring the small town we live near warned about bears moseying around the streets. A small town is heaven for a bear. They wouldn't have to go pawing through the wilds looking for food. Everyone is storing it for them in their backyard. So what, I ask you, is a bear doing all the way out here? He has to actually forage for food out here. He has to compete with all the raccoons and deer for food out here. Go back to town, Mr Bear, I beg you. I am never going for a walk again. shudder.

Depressing News.

2011-09-14T17:44:00.000-03:00

I received an email from Mr LC's cousin today with some disturbing news. She and her hubby are staying at a Chateau. In France. For cheapsies.

Here's a night view:

Yesssssss.

I don't know how they stand it.

There are three couples and they have the place all to themselves. I know! Poor things.

Extreme Couponing, Loyalist Cottage Edition.

2011-09-12T15:08:00.000-03:00

I've noticed lately that some of my bloggy friends are getting into couponing in a big way. You know, clipping coupons, watching the store flyers for sales and cashing in on some great deals. As I've told you before, I'm a follower so I decided to check this out. It turns out that couponing could be a full time job. I poured over web sites and downloaded coupons for what seemed like hours.

Coupons in hand I ~~dragged~~ invited Mr LC along for the expedition. I was so excited as I trolled through the store looking for my bargains. I told Mr LC he was going to have to build some shelves to hold all of the stash we were going to collect. This would be great now that we are ~~destitute~~ pensioners.

I can't wait to show you my stash. Wait for it.......

What, do I hear laughter at my one and only stash item!? People, behave.

Time Travel.

2011-09-10T13:17:00.000-03:00

This is my great grandmother:

She used to hang in our dining room. It's a very large picture. Mr LC and the girls begged me to remove her because they said she kept staring at them and they couldn't eat dinner. So I moved her. I do what I'm told. She got relegated to the upstairs hall behind an old dresser. Sad, but true.

This is a tea set that belonged to my great grandmother. She died when my grandmother (her daughter) was just a young girl. My great grandfather remarried and my grandmother always said she thought her step mother wasn't very careful with this tea set and things got broken.

The cups are so thin you can practically see through them. My grandmother never used these dishes and I only use them on birthdays. I think if she knew I used them she would roll over in her grave.

My great grandmother made these quilt blocks. Grandmother's half sister gave them to me many years ago and my mum made them up into this quilt for me.
So, is it time to put Great Grandmother back up on the wall? Unfortunately, nothing discourages my appetite.

Star Date September 8th 2011

2011-09-08T15:57:00.000-03:00

Beam me up, Scotty.

Retirement 2.1

2011-09-05T18:19:00.000-03:00

A few weeks ago Mr LC ordered some new business cards. Since he retired his old ones weren't much good anymore. I couldn't understand why he even needed business cards now and when I asked him about it I just got some sort of mumbled reply.

The new cards came the other day. I've blurred out all the incriminating evidence but just give the rest of it a study.

Yupper.

Old Mother Hubbard.

2011-09-02T18:27:00.001-03:00

I don't think Mother Hubbard had a refrigerator but if she did it would have looked like mine after nearly three days without power.

A wonderful opportunity for a good scrubbing.

We won't starve though. Mr LC brought these in just before supper:

One of the perks of living in the wilds of Canada. Blackberries.

It's Been a Long Week.

2011-08-31T20:46:00.000-03:00

It's been a pretty quiet week here at the LC. Tropical storm Irene knocked out our power around two o'clock in the early hours of Monday morning. We just got our power back today around noon. No electricity means no water, no refrigeration and worst of all, no internet. It's been a long week folks.

Here's some of my Brown Eyed Susans to cheer you up.

Whose Blog Is This Anyway?

2011-08-27T18:36:00.000-03:00

I'm beginning to think lately that Sassy is taking over my blog.

Look at her laughing at me.

Mr LC decided to go to Halifax this week to visit with friends. All was well until Thursday morning at about 6:20 am when I was woken up by a phone call. 'Are you missing a horse?' the fellow on the other end of the line asked. Great. Sassy on the lam. Now this caller is a neighbour of ours who lives about 2km up the road from us. I immediately called another friend/neighbour who lives down the road in the other direction and asked him for help. I then jumped in the car to see whether I could ~~getintheway~~ help. I so wish I had had my camera with me. Here was our friend driving his car and leading Sassy alongside with a lead rope coming out of the open window!

She is now being held without bail in my neighbour's corral until such time as a court approved lawyer is retained. Or until Mr LC gets home.

link

Courtroom artist's depiction of the defendant.

A Likely Story.

2011-08-21T18:22:00.000-03:00

And here I thought we cleared the yard to make room for the snow to be plowed.

Lunch.

2011-08-20T12:18:00.001-03:00

This is what I had for lunch today:

Don't laugh. It was delicious.

Seriously.

A ~~customer~~ reader asked for the recipe so here it is:

I played with it a little bit.

Sweet Parsley Smoothie 2 quarts

2 cups fresh parsley
1 Fujii apple. (I used a Cripps apple) Hey there really are Cripps apples FYI.
1 Banana
2 Medjoool dates. (I don't know what kind mine were) I would add a couple more next time maybe.
2oz fresh lemon juice. (I used bottled)

That's the recipe but I added maybe 1/2 cup water and four or five ice cubes because I like mine really cold. This will keep covered in fridge for a day so you don't have to drink it all at once. Let me know whether you like it or not.

Heavy Breathing.

2011-08-17T14:55:00.000-03:00

The story I am about to tell you is true. The names and places have not been changed to protect the innocent. You all know Mr LC:

Since his retirement in June he has been spending an inordinate amount of time in his cozy chair. Sleeping. Since it is now thereabouts the middle of August, he has spent some day light hours awake in his cozy chair. Mostly reading. Some critiquing. (Of my homemaking skills.)
Last night Mr LC fires up his laptop and decides to read my blog. All of my blog. I did not know this as I was ~~watching television~~ practicing my homemaking skills. I could hear him laughing a lot and didn't think too much of it. I went to bed at a reasonable hour. He did not. This morning when I came downstairs I noticed his asthma inhaler on the kitchen table.

This is rarely used in the summer. It is required in the winter however.
When he got up this morning he told me he had read through most of my blog and just cracked up laughing. He laughed so hard he got asthma and needed his puffer. Not to take all the credit Gentle Readers, he found all your comments witty and delightful as well. Mr Urban Cottage and MMMC just to name a couple. Not to name names of course or single anyone out it's just because I know where these people live. I may have to use you as character witnesses if Mr LC happens to expire while reading my ramblings.
Actually, Mr LC first got asthma from laughing. It's true. We have a lovely Irish friend and if you've never heard an Irish person tell a story you've missed out on something hilarious. We always blame her for giving Mr LC asthma because he had to go to the ER that night, he was laughing so hard at her he couldn't breathe.

I repeat: All of the above is completely true and nothing has been changed to protect the ~~guilty~~ innocent.

He's such a card.

Sassy Update.

2011-08-16T10:51:00.000-03:00

I just wanted to post a little video of Sassy here to assure everyone that she is indeed home.

Aaaand she sort of flunked training camp. See how she obeys me? Smarty pants.

All by Myself.

2011-08-15T12:10:00.000-03:00

I had a bit of a holiday last week. Mr LC occasionally goes long haul trucking with his buddy to international locales and last week was one such trip. Now as I have mentioned here when the hubby is away I get all revved up to do something to fix up the house.

Et voila!

This little corner is where I hang my clothes. Yes, folks a two hundred+ year old house does not contain many closets. We have two upstairs, one that was already here and one my husband made in #1's room. The one that was already here is in the hall and is full of Mr LC's winter clothes and the girls' castoffs that they cannot part with but don't ~~want~~ have room for in their own homes. So I cleared out some things from the closet and ~~squeezed~~ hung my things in there and proceeded to remove the ugly wallpaper from that corner of the hall.

It came off amazingly easy, I was really surprised. Just a light spritz of water and the paper pretty much peeled off in one layer.

Underneath the paper was this nasty pale pumpkin coloured paint. It looks much better in the photo believe me. So I dug out some of my go to Cloud White by Ben Moore and splashed that on the walls.

Forgive the photo quality, there's not much light in that corner. I need to do another coat of paint but I ran out and haven't been shopping yet.

This is the view looking out from the master bedroom. Like I say, there's not a lot of light there and it's a cloudy day. Anyway, I am so pleased with how easily the paper came off that I'm preparing myself to do the whole hall. Isn't it funny how you get so used to something you don't even see it anymore? That paper was horrible and it's all coming off! And my clothes are staying in the hall closet. So there. Do you have any places in your home that are kind of nasty or unfinished and you don't even notice it anymore?

Sassy's Home!

2011-08-08T15:51:00.000-03:00

It's been raining cats and dogs here today. Oh yes, and horses too.

Welcome home Sassy.

What's for Dinner?

2011-08-05T19:14:00.001-03:00

This summer we became customers of Dave's Produce Packs. Dave went to school with my girls and worked with #2 for a few summers at a local fresh vegetable market nearby. Now Dave has graduated from university, bought the market from its retiring owners and started his own organic gardening business with a few of his buddies. Don't you just love young entrepreneurs who are aware of the importance of local, fresh, quality food?

So every spring he takes on about 250 customers who agree to spend 40-50 dollars/week to buy his organic produce. Here's what we got this week:

Raspberries
Beets
Carrots
Beans
Potatoes
Cilantro or Dill
Celery
Kale or Lettuce or Swiss Chard
Onions
Scapes or Grape Leaves
Red Onions or Spanish Onions or Green Onions
Potatoes
Free Run Eggs
Cranberry and Raisin Bread (The dried fruit is organic as well, of course)

$50 Customers:
Sugar Snap Peas or Cauliflower or Peas
Cabbage
Parsley

So, this was our bounty for supper:

I've never had purple potatoes before. They were so delicious and had a creamy consistancy. I think I mentioned before how every night Mr LC asks 'what kind of pie are we having for dessert?' Then I just laugh? Well, he hit the jackpot tonight.

Raspberry baby, all the way. I'm stuffed.

I'm Beet(s).

2011-08-03T15:50:00.000-03:00

Long ago I used to make pickles prodigiously. Now, not so much. However, this week I had lots of wonderful organic beets to consume so I decided to pickle some.

I forgot how long it takes to make pickles.

I did them all by myself whilst Mr LC dozed in his cozy chair.

If anyone doesn't believe I did these up myself, I now have a pink kitchen to prove it.

Happy New Brunswick Day.

2011-08-01T13:03:00.000-03:00

Today is a holiday in our province. We had some special guests here over the weekend to celebrate.

It's kind of hard to see them in this photo.

I can't believe it either.

These were my personal weekend guests:

It was hard to get them all to look at me at the same time. I had to keep hollering at Mr LC to 'Look at the camera!'

I Had to Do It.

2011-07-30T19:38:00.000-03:00

When you have fresh organic raspberries,

And some free range eggs,

What's a gal to do?

Make pavlova.

Apologies to my vegan friends but it was delicious!

Broken Item of the Week

2011-07-29T14:37:00.000-03:00

Yes, Gentle Readers, we are back to our sporadically scheduled Broken Item of the Week. A few weeks ago Daughter #2 gifted us ( I use this term loosely, she got it free from work.)with a splendid new beverage container. It was some new kind of super safe plastic cup with its own straw. The only thing was that you could not put it in the dishwasher.

I make a smoothie everyday and this cup affair was the perfect size to put it in. Mr LC would argue that #2 gave it to him personally but she assured me that it was ours to share. Yesterday when I went to make my smoothie I could not find said cup. I asked Mr LC where the cup was and he looked me straight in the eye and said 'I give my share of the cup to you'. I immediately feared the worst. You guessed it.

He said he was putting ice cubes in it and it broke.

I don't like drinking my smoothie in a regular glass because it doesn't fit.

I had to dig out this cup to use even though it's smaller than the broken one. Then I told Mr LC that if I ever catch him using it and it broke he was going to have to fund my trip to New York to attend the musical Wicked and procure another cup. On second thought, maybe I should let him use it.

p.s. I will have you know dear readers, that I had to plunge into a full can of garbage to retrieve the cup to photograph for you. These are the lengths I will go to for your reading pleasure.

Horders: The Loyalist Cottage Edition Part II

2011-07-26T14:40:00.001-03:00

Horders: The Loyalist Cottage Edition Part I is here.

The storage shed was purged. Not to my satisfaction, but sacrifices were made on Mr LC's part.

This is the second load of things we parked at the end of the driveway. That chair on the right belonged to Lady Beaverbrook.(Her husband, Sir Max Aitken, was a newspaper baron in London). Mr. LC made the big sacrifice and disposed of it. That green suitcase is alligator skin.

Here's a peek at the contents of the shed.

Sixty-seven bails of hay and room for more.

Bmer approved.

The pile at the end of the driveway is totally gone. Yay for garbage day, the garbage guys took all the leftovers.

Have you ever thrown something out and then totally regretted it?

Hoarders: The Loyalist Cottage Edition.

2011-07-21T14:21:00.001-03:00

Mr LC dragged me out of bed this morning at first light. He was a man on a mission. The storage barn must be cleaned out ~~for the nth time~~ as he needed space to store Sassy's hay supply. Out to the shed we went.

I would get rid of everything. Well, almost everything.

What are we doing with a toilet! I was told that it was a perfectly good toilet.

Anybody want a gently used bath tub?

Is this the keep pile or the throwaway pile? Do you see that blue bucket up there? I found a carton in it with a box of kraft dinner, a can of tuna and a bottle of vanilla extract. Mr LC says keep the tuna. NOT!

How about camping in a rotting tent? Mr LC used to take the girls 'camping' for a few days every summer. I heard they ate out a lot.

How about a chair to reupholster?

Gratuitous picture of a kangaroo for my Australian contingent.

My dolls' crib from when I was a wee girl. I know, it's vintage. It's going.

My table from when I was a little tot. I have the chairs too. It's staying.

An angel, anyone? We have six. I don't know why.

We tried to get rid of this Chanel display stand last time. But we got caught by Daughter #1. So it stays. sigh.
There are piles of boxes stacked up in there. ~~All~~ A lot of it belongs to the girls. Things they used when they went to university and had their own apartments. Glasses, dishware, odd tables, that sort of thing. But, you'll never guess what I uncovered while going through their stuff.

The mother load! Not even opened. I guess someone never got up the courage to try it.
Aaaand this one...

Isn't this the Queen's tipple? Alas, it is half gone. Finding these just made my day. I never laughed so hard in my life when I came across these all safely wrapped in newspaper. Now, I wonder if anyone will cop to the crime???

Anyway, if you think you can't live without any of this wonderful junk, stop by the end of my driveway. It will be waiting for you! Except for the booze of course.

p.s. If you're up for another laugh, visit my daughter's blog Broken Poet and see how she tries to make me over. Try being the operative word.

Some Sarah Love.

2011-07-20T18:40:00.000-03:00

Yesterday I received my copy of Country Living's July/August issue in the mail. I was pleasantly surprised to see my favourite Canadian designer featured.

Credit-Style at Home

The article showed some rooms from the island cottage owned by Sarah's husband before they were married.

She took a dark pine walled cabin and made it into a lovely getaway home.

HGTV.ca

I love her style. It's always fresh and clean with lots of pattern but never too much.

If you can watch Sarah's Cottage on HGTV (Canada) you should try and see it. The whole cottage renovation is shown in several episodes. Sarah is lively and funny and has a great side kick in her assistant Tommy.
Do you have a favourite designer?

Only the Best Will Do.

2011-07-17T15:22:00.000-03:00

For some months now, Daughter #2 and her Hubby have been weighing the merits of various stroller/car seat combos. Who knew their were so many options?

Everything seems so high tech and difficult these days.

#2's Pa-in-law chimed in and declared that he would buy said stroller/car seat/computer/dvd etc combo. Money was to be no object for his first born grandson to be.

Well, he delivered. All the way from Italy.

This Peg Perego can do everything but wash the dishes. It's a wonder in safety and innovation .
This is #2's new stroller/carseat/yada yada yada:

#2 and her hubby were so excited they had to bring it over to our house to show it to us. See Mr LC mesmerized by the Peg?

He's just so relieved he didn't have to pay for the thing.

Those Were the Days.

2011-07-14T19:43:00.001-03:00

Daughter #2 dropped in for a visit today. She went up to her old bedroom and found a box of photos that she had stashed under her bed. After looking through them she handed me some and asked me if I wanted them. Well, seeing as how they were mine in the first place I certainly did want them!

Here is #2 at two and a half years old:

How cute is she??? I was taken by the toys she had arranged on her shelves. Cabbage Patch doll, Smurf, and Fisher Price toys, and she's wearing her Osh Kosh overalls. A Child of the Eighties. sigh.

Broken Item of the Week

2011-07-12T13:05:00.000-03:00

Here we go again folks, the long awaited much anticipated Broken Item of the Week.

Mr LC was heating up leftover ~~crap~~ Kraft dinner for his lunch. He ate it right out of the bowl (my mum's vintage Fire King) and left it sitting on that little stand you see in the picture. After the delicious meal, he decided to give Sophie a hair cut. Like a good boy, when he was finished he got out the vacuum cleaner to clean up. You know the rest of the story...
It's funny because a little while earlier I was wondering around the house (avoiding my job) thinking about a broken item. A few weeks ago a dear friend begged me to break something to cheer her up. Nay, Nay, I told her, it has to be real, I have my integrity to uphold.

Well, I hope you're happy Carmel.

Eating My Words.

2011-07-07T21:57:00.000-03:00

Yes, people, sometimes I say things and then change my mind and do just the opposite. I have been reading lately like there's no tomorrow.

Books. I have been reading books. Then every few weeks I'll have a book sort out and get rid of a box full. Soooo, I have determined that if I have an e-reader I will not have books lying around to trip over, dust, lose, etc. You get the drift.
I invested in one of these:

I did some research and because I am ~~cheap~~ careful about my purchases I bought a Kobo. The e-books are half the price of printed ones!

Don't be distressed though, I still love real books, the feel of the paper, the smell... I am keeping all of my well loved favourites and you can't enjoy a cookbook or a decor book on a little screen.
So far, I'm enjoying the e-reader. I hope I don't wear it out!

Things Are Blooming Around Here.

2011-07-04T17:40:00.000-03:00

When I think about how cold winter is here I'm always relieved to see my flowers blooming again come summer. It truly is a miracle how they manage to survive the winter.

There are five kinds of roses growing there.

These white ones are my favourite because they have such a lovely fragrance.

The tiger lilies came from my Mother in law's garden many years ago.

The yellow day lilies are just starting to bloom.

And this sweet pea is really blooming.

Happy Canada Day!

2011-07-01T15:06:00.000-03:00

Have a great day eh!

Retirement: Day 3.

2011-06-30T14:52:00.000-03:00

No need to say a word.

Inside the cupboard too:

Oh joy oh bliss.

Company's Coming!

2011-06-29T21:22:00.000-03:00

I would like to extend a hearty welcome to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Tomorrow they are arriving in my homeland for their first official visit. Alas, they will not be visiting near me.

Kate wants to visit Anne of Green Gables house. My house is much the same. I don't know why they don't come here. I'd serve them King Cole tea and maple sugar biscuits. Plus I would not charge admission at the LC.
Fascinators at the ready!

Please note, this is not the Duchess. She wishes.

Help!!!

2011-06-28T20:03:00.000-03:00

Today is Day One of Retirement. We decided to go to the big city so Mr. LC could finish up some loose ends re his job. We went to the bank and then to our favourite coffee shop. It was amazing, we weren't in any hurry, there were no time constraints and we chatted for as long as we wanted to a few acquaintances. I kept marveling to myself how nice it was to spend the day like this.
Then hubby decided we he should recover the dining room chairs. We've been wanting to do this for a long time so we moseyed on over to the fabric store to find something suitable.

This photo shows chairs that are very similar to ours. The frame, not the seat covering. I traveled up and down the aisles and couldn't find anything to strike my fancy. So here is where you come in, Gentle Readers. Tell me what you would use to upholster these bad boys. Please!

I Like What I See.

2011-06-25T19:08:00.001-03:00

I've been hunting around Etsy lately looking to see what's cute and creative. I found a few things I love.

here

How cute are these for a Canadian baby boy?

here

Love houses of any kind.

here

I need to remember this daily.

here

More baby booties.

here

I love this little vintage piece.

I seem to be looking at baby things a lot more lately. I wonder why that is?

If a Tree Falls...

2011-06-24T14:30:00.001-03:00

In a forest does anybody hear it? Well, I've heard lots of trees falling this week. Due to the heavy snows last winter and nowhere to put said snow, Mr LC (thank you peeps) decided the time had come to enlarge the driveway and parking spot so we would have lots of room to plow the snow back. Do you remember this?

It grieves me to post this photo. Oh, well, now that area looks like this:

I don't know whether you can tell, but the apple tree in the top photo is now gone. My poor little potting shed is hanging on by a thread now.

You see where the truck is in the above photo? Well from that truck to the edge of the potting shed is where my inventory of lilac bushes used to be. I know. They're all gone. We saved about four so the first four readers to hurry on down will get them.

I don't know if you realize this, but men and chainsaws can be a dangerous combination. Two Butternut trees met their demise.

Above are the remains of said trees crowding out the rhubarb patch.

Our driveway is now ditched to within an inch of its life.

More ditching.

This is at the top of the driveway. All this ditching will help keep our driveway intact during the spring run off.

Even more ditching!

There's our little house peeking through all the greeny goodness. Well, here's mud in your eye.

I Do Have a Clue.

2011-06-20T14:53:00.000-03:00

Hello, Gentle Readers.

A short while ago I mentioned on this esteemed blog that Daughter #2 would be having a baby. She is with child. She waddles.
I digress. #2 graciously permitted me to share the sex of the baby on said blog. Here are a couple of hints.

You have three guesses and the first two don't count.

Happy Fathers Day!

2011-06-18T19:36:00.000-03:00

This man is in no way my father no matter how old he looks.

Make sure you tell your dads you love them!

Oh Canada

2011-06-17T11:08:00.000-03:00

Daughter #1 says it better here than I ever could. Shameful. Just shameful.

Three Strikes and...

2011-06-14T19:49:00.000-03:00

Air Canada is on strike.

Canada Post is on strike.

I sure hope the World Wide Web doesn't become unionized.

Lilac Heaven.

2011-06-09T19:40:00.001-03:00

There is a plethora of lilac ~~trees~~ bushes around the LC. I was pretty excited to find them all when we first moved here.

These bushes go right up past the roof of the veranda. I get to see them every time I stand at the kitchen sink. So, not very often.

Their wonderful scent wafts through the kitchen when I open the window.

We only had one purple bush but a couple of years ago it sprung a baby and so now I have two. This is the back garden. It's very quiet and secluded there.

I picked a bouquet for you. We've given a lilac bush to everyone who asks for one. Stop in for yours. Please note that photo is in no way styled. That's all she wrote. Bye.

I Forget.

2011-06-08T11:03:00.000-03:00

A while ago, I mentioned that our garden would soon be awash in forget me nots. Someone left a comment saying something about liking that word awash being used in such a fashion. Forgive her, she's Australian, right Katherine?

So, I present to you, A Garden Awash in Forget Me Nots:

Yes, the windows will hopefully be repainted this summer. If my job ever ends.

Teddy Bears' Picnic?

2011-06-01T11:06:00.001-03:00

We had an interesting local news item on the public radio station today. There are bears in town!

We live ~~in thesticks~~ near a small town. Apparently, said small town has been enticing the bears to examine homeowners' trash and compost recently.

Am I glad I live in the country! No bears here.

Fini

International Dateline.

2011-05-29T17:30:00.000-03:00

On Saturday, Daughter #2 and I headed for the U.S. border. We like to shop over there once in a while and it's not too far away from where we live. Here's the border crossing:

If you believe that I've got some swampland in Florida for you.

It's just a sign.

No, here it is. The towns on either side of the border are divided by a river. When we crossed the bridge, #2's cellphone changed it's clock automatically. Suddenly we were a whole hour younger. Amazing! These days you need a passport to enter the U.S. We handed ours over to the U.S. border guard. Usually they just ask you where you're going and how long you'll be there. This time, we got the third degree. He wanted to know what relation we were to each other, what we did for a living and our astrological birth sign. Sheesh, we hadn't even bought anything yet, we were on our way over, Mr. Man. Then he wants us to pop the trunk for heaven's sake! What do we look like? A pregnant lady and a middleaged ~~and still beautiful~~ matronly type.

I guess you just never know. And I didn't have my press pass either. That would have showed him.

Barbers Beware!

2011-05-23T15:18:00.002-03:00

Calamitous clipper catastrophe cover up.

This is not a mug shot.

Stop the Presses.

2011-05-22T16:11:00.000-03:00

Daughter #1 gifted me with something special for Mother's Day this year:

Now, where do you suppose this will get me?

Just Checking In.

2011-05-18T20:34:00.000-03:00

Hi All,

Some of my regular blog readers have been wondering where I've been lately. I'm only sharing this with you, Gentle Readers- I have a job! Outside the home!!! It's not permanent, just a Top Secret Government Job which should be finished by the first part of July.
So, I've been a wee bit busy, job training, working and still my work at home. I don't have a lot of time to blog but I'll do my best. I'm trying to visit everyone so you will see comments on your blogs.
Carry on Peeps and I'll get here when I can!

Meanwhile, have an orange on me.

Another Post in Which I Have Nothing to Say.

2011-05-11T11:06:00.000-03:00

It's 7C here today. Are we living in Australia for heaven's sake?

Last week I read a book a day just to see if I could. Unfortunately, I could.

There are too many birthdays and special occasions here at the LC in the spring. Being wined and dined is exhausting.

My husband endured severe ridicule in his workplace for not getting me a Mother's Day gift. He says I'm not his mother. I'm not. I hope.

Daughter #2 knows what I like. Three British decorating magazines!

Said daughter now has a baby bump. So cute.

Daughter #1 gave said daughter flowers and a card for Mother's Day because she is a mother in waiting. How sweet is that?

Sassy is still away on her ~~vacation~~ training trip. She must be a slow learner.

The garden will soon be awash in Forget Me Nots.

And that's all I have to say about nothing.

Happy Mothers Day!

2011-05-07T20:24:00.000-03:00

Broken Item of the Week...er Century

2011-05-03T15:16:00.000-03:00

Why oh why did I come up with this Broken Item of the Week silliness? I was poking fun at my husband because he is was the major breaker of things in our household. Well, I guess he gets the last laugh. Remember this blog post on my beloved family heirloom the Grandfather Clock?

It ~~stood~~ stands so majestically in our front entryway.

Notice the wonderful patina.

The clock face so lovingly restored by my husband.

Today, I decided to be Susie Homemaker and do some cleaning. I know, it's a shocker and look what I get for my labours.

Yes, in living colour here is the damage.

Shattered glass.

Emma surveys the destruction.

The clock came all the way from Scotland with my ancestors in 1764. How could this happen? I don't know. I was just standing in front of it vacuuming the floor when all of a sudden it keeled over right behind me.

Don't worry, Gentle Readers, I'm all right. Just a glancing blow to the shoulder as I dived out of the way. I'll be okay. The clock, not so much.

Fairy Tale.

2011-04-30T12:42:00.000-03:00

Duchess of Cambridge

#1 of Loyalist Cottage

Daughter #1 told me that yesterday a little girl came into the shop and asked her if she was Princess Kate.

Spring Training.

2011-04-25T19:13:00.000-03:00

'Tis the season for Spring Training.

Well, I don't know if it is for baseball but it is spring training for Sassy.

For being such a kind, gentle horse she has some naughty habits up her ~~sleeve~~ hooves when you put a saddle on her.

Her own personal ~~limo~~ horse trailer picked her up this morning complete with snacks and beverages. Well, hay and water. She told me she was very excited to have a trip planned especially for her. Little does she know, it's going to be all work and no play for this gal.

Bye Sassy. See you in a couple of weeks!

The Good News.

2011-04-23T18:50:00.000-03:00

Christ has risen, He has risen indeed!

Weekend Visitor.

2011-04-18T10:20:00.000-03:00

I never get tired of their company.

Sweet Saturday.

2011-04-16T18:56:00.000-03:00

Since I started on my vegan path eight weeks ago ~~but who's counting~~ my husband has been very supportive. He agrees to eat vegan at home but reserves the right to order whatever he likes (MEAT!) when we dine out once a week on date night.

However, he does miss my baking. A lot. So after much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth (by me) I endeavoured to find some yummy recipes for sweets. I think I hit the jackpot.

Magical Coconut Cookie Bars

I used the recipe from this cookbook:

Small in stature but big in delicious recipes.

Seriously. Head over to amazon or your local bookstore and peruse through the photos and recipes and you will be surprised. In a good way.

Peanut butter and chocolate. Seriously.

NYC Black and White Cookies

These squares were To.Die.For.

My husband is one happy man.

Spring Has Sprung.

2011-04-15T10:46:00.000-03:00

Shh, Gentle Readers, we don't say spring has come too loudly around here. First thing you know, we'll have another snowfall.

The crocus are blooming.

There is a little bit of snow in the pasture.

It's still a bit nippy for some of us in the mornings though.

Broken Item of the Week

2011-04-14T15:07:00.000-03:00

Yes, Gentle Readers it has happened once again.

This is what I get for attempting to feed a cat in the middle of the night in the dark.

The Real Deal

2011-04-10T14:39:00.001-03:00

Sassy would now like to get in on the action.

Please excuse the photo quality. A professional cameraman I am not.

One of These Things is Not Like the Others...

2011-04-07T11:51:00.000-03:00

I got a new camera a couple of months ago and I enjoy playing with it. Please indulge me.

*That Millie. After her fifteen minutes of fame she insists on having her picture taken all the time now.